It's all happening as we hit the one-quarter mark of the Europa League league phase.

Forest are hurdling towards a cliff in 6 winless games under Ange Postecoglou — are they fully in crisis? Rangers certainly are, with yet another loss added to Russell Martin's brief tenure.

Elsewhere, Roma and Stuttgart are both shut out, and Celta Vigo finally get their first win of the season, and Porto remains perfect.

It was a week to celebrate the teams who got big upset wins, including Midtjylland, Basel, Sturm Graz, Lille, and Go Ahead Eagles.

We also discuss Nice's abominable Europa League standing, what's working for Braga, and naturally, Robin van Persie's ageless handsomeness.

Cheers to Mario Kovačević!

Join us in reliving all the tremendous action of the Europa League league phase, match-day 1!

We had a thriller in Betis v Forest, Villa finally eked out a win, Roma looks like the favorite, and are we sleeping on Stuttgart?

Plus, Panathinaikos makes a statement, Braga takes all 3 points against pod-favorite Feyenoord, and Rangers are still utterly calamitous.

We also take a brief detour down Tanner Tessman lane and discuss what a stacked USMNT midfield might group might look like come World Cup 2026.

All that and much more on the pod.

Cheers to mf-ing Olivier Giroud!

"I don't know what counts as a dispossession if not getting tackled and losing the ball." - David Blomquist

It's a big week on Any Given Thursday because the Europa League proper is officially here!

That's right, the first round of league phase games begin Wednesday, and it is one of the best slates we've ever had covering the tournament.

We hit all the best matchups, including Betis v Forest, Nice v Roma, + Midtjylland v Sturm Graz on Wednesday, and Stuttgart v Celta Vigo + Aston Villa v Bologna Thursday — and predict the results.

We also talk our favorite hipster showcases and discuss which big-league clubs are already trending in the wrong direction.

Cheers Robin van Persie!